Concerns aired over jail renaming

ELIZABETHTOWN-While no one disagrees about the man, there have been some issues brought up over the possible re-naming of the Essex County Jail and Public Services building.

After it was announced that the county was looking into costs that may be associated with re-naming the structure in honor of former Essex County Sheriff Henry Hommes, some supervisors said that they received phone calls and messages from their towns asking if re-naming the building was the appropriate thing to do.

"It is a very sensitive issue," Moriah supervisor Tom Scozzafava said during the April 4 meeting of the county board. "I did have calls and concerns from my constituents and the main comment that I have been hearing is if it is appropriate to name the building after one law enforcement officer when there are several examples of law enforcement officers who have served and even died in the line of service."

North Hudson supervisor Robert Dobie said he was not in favor of a name change.

"I have a problem with naming something like a jail after someone," he said.

Chesterfield supervisor Gerald Morrow was named to head a sub-committee to look into the concerns and the feasibility of re-naming the building.

"We were able to meet and address all of the concerns," Morrow said. "I think that we will have something in place that will be agreeable to everyone at the public safety committee meeting April 11."